Automatic stop mechanism for glass-feeding apparatus



'Sept. 16, 1930'. K. E. PEILER 1,776,237

AUTOIATIC. STOP MECHANISM FOR GLASS FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 50, 1925 [720672 6021- [1 427 I Z. ezZ

Patented Sept. 1;6, 1930 UNlT-EDdSTATES PATENT OFFICE KARL n rmna, or wnsr nnn'riro nn, -com;ncrroirr, nssrorroa zro mn'rronn-nmrmn comramz, or mrronn, CONNECTICUT, A compan on or DELAWARE nu'romnrrc sror unonnmsu ron e Ass-nnnnme APPARATUS" j Applicationflled April at, 1925. Serial Ira-26,887.

.My invention 'relatesto'apparatus for feed- I ing molten glass and more particularly to feeders of that type in which a vertically movableimplement projects into the glass over an 5 outlet in thebottom of a container to control the discharge of glass to form mold charges.

In order that the glass discharged from the outlet may be in a condition of uniform temperature and fluidity, certain glass feeders are provided with means for rotating the implement, thereby stirring the glassin the container prior to its discharge from the outlet.

' In one type of feeder, the'discharge of glass from the o tlet is regulated-b a reciprocatr ing plung and the stirring o the glass is accomplished by rotation of the plunger. The plunger is usual provided with means for changin its position toward and from the outlet. in another-type of plunger feeder, the stirring is accomplished bya tube which surrounds the plunger. Means are provided foradjustingthatube toward and from the outlet and when the tube is in its lowermost 'position,-it may act as? gate to; cut off the flow of glass to the outlet. In other types of feed ers, the rotary implement performs the function only of a stirrer and may be operated inde endentlyof the glass delivery mechanism. 'chever form. of rotating implement may be employed, there is danger that it may be adjusted to such a low position that abra-j sion will occur between theimplementand vthe'container or the wall of the outlet, thereby damaging the arts, and the presentinvention has'for an'o ject, to provide means for controlling the rotary movement of such an implement so that its rotary. movement will be stopped before it is moved into proiiimity to the outlet; 40 Another object of theinvention. is to pro 4 vide apparatus of the character designated, which s all stop the rotary movement of-the feeder implement when lowered in close proximity to thedischarge outlet and shall automatically start the rotation ofsaid implement when raised from said outlet.

A further object of the invention is to provideapparatus of the character designated which shall be simple in operation anddui so able in construction, and shall efiectively coneifically set forth in the appended claims.

dangerous I -"for-vertical adjustment by any suitable mechtrol the i'otary plement.

These and other objects will be more mamfest from the following specification, and spemovement of the feeder im- In the drawing, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation, showing parts of the apparatus in sec tion, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown'in Fi 1.

There is illustrated in Fig. 1, a feeder comprising a glass container 10, which may be aforehearth' connected to a glass furnace, having a dischargwe: outlet 11 through which molten glass is discharged under thecontrol of a vertically reciprocating plunger 12. This lunger is carried by an arm 13 which may he reciprocated in any desired manner by. the. feederfoperating mechanism and 7cmeansimay' be provided for adjusting the path of reciprocation of the lower end of the plunger toward and from the outlet. This plunger-may be rotated about its axis to stir the glass adjacent the discharge outlet, but

in the illustrated embodiment of the inveni tion, the plunger has no rotary movement, it

adjustable tube 14 having its lower end pro-5 jectin intothe glass above the'outle't. When this tu is lowered, as shown in the drawing, it acts as a gate to interrupt the flow of glass to the outlet. The tube is supported by 8.11.85 arm 15" and is arranged for rotation so as to setup a circular movement in the glass adjacentthe' outlet. v.

As shown], the arm may also be supported anism, as for example by a vertically disposed bar-16.7 This bar is slidably mounted in suitable bearings 17 17 and is guided for vertical adjustment by means of a pin 18-adapted to. engage a suitable opening 19 provided in the upper bearing 17. The lowerend of the bar .16 is adapted to rest at its lower. extremity upon a screw 20 supported in the lower bearing 17 by-means of collars 21, 21. The screw 20 is operatedby a handle 22 to effect the de- 1 sired vertical adjustment of the tube 14. The mechanism described above may be, and preferably is, substantiallyas shown in my copending application Serial No. 683,576, filed December 31, 1923.

The tube 14 is rotated by a gear 23 mounted on the top portion thereof and this gear is adapted to be driven by associated gears 24 The mechanism for mounting and operat ing'the rotary tube is specifically set forth in my copending application Serial No. 39,242, filed June 24, 1925.

The present invention provides means for stopping the rotation of thetube 14 before it can be moved into dangerous proximity to the walls of the outlet 11. Any suitable mechanism may be provided to break the driving connection between the tube and the motor 29, but, as illustrated, the rotation of the tube is stopped by cutting off the current of the motor 29 by the switch 30. As shown, this switch mechanism is mounted on an arm 31, formed integral-with the support 26, and-includes stationary contact members 32 and 33 which connect with lead wires 34 and 35 respectively from any convenient source of electric current controlled by a cutout switch 36. The electric circuit to the motor. is completed through the contacts 32 and 33 by means of a pivoted switch bar 37 provided with a depending contact blade 38,

which is adapted to engage the contact members 32 and 33. The bar 37 is pivotally mounted on the arm 31 at 39 and is actuated by an adjustable bolt 40 which is carried by an arm 41 extending from the tube support 15. The adjustment of the bolt 40 provides a ready means to accurately time the opera tion of the switch relative to the vertical adustment of the tube. The switch bar/37 may be maintained in engagement with the adjusting bolt 40 by any suitable mea ga for example, by a spring 42. The switch is thus opened and closed automatically to start and ing support ;26 are maintaine ;,';i;n'proper alignment by ,means of an adjusting bolt 43' oarried by the arm'41 of the tube support ,15, as shown in Fig. 2. I i

' Having thus described apparatus constructed in accordance with the present in- 4 vention, the operation thereof is carried out in the following manner.

The gear 25 is driv- In the operation of a feeder employing a reciprocating plunger operating Within a rotary tube, as above described, it is essential that the rotation of the tube be stopped before the tube is'lowered to final closed-position to stop the flow of glass. When it is desired to stop the flow of glass, this may be accomplished by lowering the tube by means of the handle 22 to shut off the supply of glass to the outlet. In moving the tube to stop the flow of glass, the arm 41 of the tube support 15 engages the end of the bar 37 and causes the same to pivot about the point 39 and raise the mechanism and thespring 42 causes the switch to close the electric circuit and automatically start the motor.

By the provision of an apparatus constructed in accordance with he present invention, the rotational movement ofthe feeder implement is effectively controlled by the vertical adjustment thereof, thus avoiding the injurious results which might occur in utilizing rotating feeder implements to perform the functions of a stirrer and of a valve for controlling the flow of molten glass to the discharge outlet of the glass container.

.lll'hile I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it will be understood. that various changes may be'made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims. Q

' I claim as my invention: I

1.Apparatus for producing mold charges of molten glass, comprising a container for the glass having a discharge outlet, :1. rotatable and longitudinally movable dischargecontrolling implement disposed in axial alignment with said outlet, and means oper- ,atedby the longitudinal movement of said implement for controlling the rotary motion thereof so as to stop said rotary motion as "the implement approaches the outlet irrespective of the continued longitudinal movement "of the implement toward the outlet,

1 .2. Apparatus for producing mold charges of molten glass, comprising a container for stop the motor .Wh en'the tube is,rais ed er; lowered. The tubesupport-Ifi and m mmotion thereof so as to stop the rotation of the implement as the implement closely approaches the outlet whether or not the implement continues to move toward the outlet.

3. Apparatus for producing mold charges.

of molten glass, comprising a container forthe glass having a discharge outlet, at plunger disposed in line with said outlet, a rotatable tube surrounding the plunger, said tube being vertically adjustable to controlthe supply of glass to the outlet, and means for stopping the rotary movement of the tube' in response to lowering the tube to control the flow of glass to the outlet 4. Apparatus for producing mold charges of molten glass, comprising a container for the glass having a downwardly opening discharge outlet, a plunger disposed in line with said outlet, a tube surrounding said plunger and adapted to control the flow of. glass to the outlet, said tube having'rotary and longitudinal motions, and means operated by thelongitudinal movement of said tube for controlling the rotary movement thereof so as to stop the rotation of the tube ona predeter-.

mined longitudinal movement of the tube and independently of cessation of the longitudinal movement of the tube. 5. Apparatus forproducing mold charges of molten glass, comprising a container for the glass having a discharge outlet, a plunger disposedin line with said outlet, a tube surrounding said plunger and having its lower. extremity adj acent to said outlet, means for rotating thetube, means for adjusting the tube longitudinally to control the flow of glass to the outlet, and means operated by the adjusting means for controlling the tube rotating means. 7

6. In apparatus for'discharging molten glass, the combination: of a discharge controlling tube, means for rotating the tube, means for moving the. tube 1ongitudinally,'means inactive prior toa predetermined longitudinal movement of saidtube. and then rendered effective to control the operation of said tube rotating means, and means for adj ust-.

for rotating the tube, means for adjusting the tube longitudinally, and means operated.by

the adjnstin means for stopping the rotary movemento saidtube, f

' '9. In apparatus for' glass, thecombination of a rotatable feeder tube, a support for the tube, means for rotat+ ing the tube in thesupport, means for .efiecting a verticaladjustment of the sup ort, and

means operated by the movement 0 the sup port for controlling the tube rotating means.

- 10. In apparatus for discharging molten 05 glass, the combination 'of a rotatable feeder discharging molten means for rotating the tube in thesup'port, means for effecting a vertical adjustment of the support, and means operated by the movement of said support for controlling the motor.

tube, a support for the tube, motor operated 11. Apparatus for producing mold charges of molten glass, comprising a container for the glass having a discharge outlet, a rotatable fiow-controllingmember disposed in axial alignment with said outlet, a support for said rotatable member, means for rotating the member, means for effecting a vertical adjustment of said support, and means o'p erated by the support for controlling the rotation of said flow-controlling member.

12. In appara'tus for discharging molten glass, the combination of a rotatable feeder tube, a support for the tube, an electric I motor for rotating the tube in the support, means for effecting a vertical adjustment of the support, and means including an electric switch operated'by the movement of said su port for controlling the motor and the tu e rotating means. 4 j

13. Apparatus for feeding molten I glass, comprising a container having a submerged discharge outlet, a tube having its lower end wbmerged in the glass above the 'outlet,

means for adjusting the tube toward and from the outlet, means for rotating the tube, and adjustable means associated with the tube and the tube-rotatingmeans for stopping the rotation of the tube'automatically when the tube has been lowered to an adjustable distance from the outlet irrespective of further movement .of the tube toward the outlet and for again starting the rotation thereof automatically as the tube is raised from the adjusted position.

1%. Apparatus for producing mold charges ofanolten glass, comprising a container for the glass having a discharge outlet, a reciprocable plunger disposed in line with the outlet, a rotatable and longitudinally movable tube surrounding the plunger, means for rotatin the tube, and means controlled by definite longitudinal movements of the tube for controlling the rotation of the tube independently of the reciprocations of the plunger, said nieans for controlling the rotation of the tube being inactive during lesser longitudinal movementsof the tube. V

15. Apparatus for producing mold charges of. molten glass, comprising a container for the glasshaving a discharge outlet, a reciprocable plunger disposed in line with the outlet, .a rotatable tube surrounding the plunger, an electric motor for rotating the tube, and switch mechanism for controlling the operationof the motor independently of the mechanism for reciprocating the plunger.

'16. Apparatus for producing mold charges of molten glass, comprising a container for the glass having a discharge outlet, a reciprocable plunger disposed in line with said outlet, a rotatable tube surrounding the plunger, means for rotating the tube, means for vertically adjusting the tube toward and from the outlet to control the supply of glass through said outlet, and means controlled by adjustment of the tube relatively to said out let for starting and stopping the rotary movement of the tubeindependently of the mechanism for reciprocating the plunger.

' 17. Apparatus for feeding molten glass comprising a container for the glass having a discharge outlet, a rotary discharge regulat-- ing'im'plement extending into the glass and movable toward and from the outlet, and adjustable means operable on apredetermined adjusting movement of the implement toward the outlet to stop the rotation of the implement.

18. In glass working machinery, two ad jacent members, one of said members being rotatable, means for rotating said rotary member, means for adjusting the distance between said -members, aiid means operable automatically'by the relative movement of said members into close proximity to each other to stop the operation of said member rotating means.

19. In glass worln'ng machinery, two. adjacent members normally spaced an adjustable'distance apart, one of said members being rotatable, means for rotating said rotary member, means for adjusting the distance between said members, and means responsive to variance. of the distance between said members for controlling the operation of said rotating means so' as'to automatically stop the rotat on of said rotary member when the distance between said members is decreased beoutlet, means for varying the distance between said implement and the outlet, means for rotating one of said feeder members, and means responsive to change of distance between the implement and the outlet for controlling the operation of said rotating means so as to stop the rotation of the implement when the implement is close to the outlet independently of a further decrease of thedistance between the implement and the outlet.

22. Apparatus for producing mold charges low a predetermined distance irrespective of a further decrease of the distance between the members, and to automatically start the rotation of the rotary member again when the distancebetween said members is increased beyond said predetermined distance.

20. In lass working machinery, two adiacent mem ers normally spaced an adjustable distance apart, one of said members being rotatable, means for rotating said rotary member,means for adjusting the distance between said members, and means responsiveto variance of the distance between said members t6, stop the operation of said rotating means when the distance between said membersis less than a predetermined distance and'to again start the rotating means on res toration of said predetermined distance betweensaid members.

'2l. In operative glass feeder members, one consist ing of a container for molten glass having a discharge outlet, and the other consisting of an implement extending in the glass to-' ward the outlet for cooperating with the outlet to control discharge of glass through the glass working machinery, two co- 

